While a proposed new law is going through Parliament, before it becomes a law, it is called a Bill. The Bill has to be properly written out/drafted, explaining carefully how and when the new law is going to be used.

Stages in making a law:

1. FIRST READING: The Bill is drafted for MPs to read through. In this first stage, there is no discussion or vote.

2. SECOND READING: A government minister explains the purpose of the Bill and answers questions about it. A vote will take place after this Reading. Only if enough MPs vote for the Bill can it continue through the stages.

3. COMMITTEE STAGE: A small committee of elected MP’s (16-60) looks at the details of the Bill and discusses them. It suggests changes or amendments to the Bill and votes on these.

4. REPORT STAGE: The committee reports to the House of Commons on what it has done to the Bill. MP’s can scrutinize the Bill and, if they wish to or feel it necessary, suggest further changes.

5. THIRD READING: This stage gives the House of Commons a chance to look at the whole Bill again with all its amendments. After a debate, MPs will have the opportunity to vote for or against the amended Bill.

6. HOUSE OF LORDS: In this stage, the Bill goes to the House of Lords, where they check it and can suggest changes to the Bill; there may be some discussion with the House of Commons about these. But the House of Lords cannot stop a Bill from becoming law.

7. THE ROYAL ASSENT: Once the Bill has been passed by both Houses, it goes to the monarch who gives the Royal Assent (agreement). This is now mostly ceremonial, the last monarch who refused Royal Assent was Queen Anne, the last of the Stuarts.

8. ACT OF PARLIAMENT: the Bill is now a law. Typically it will come into force on a day set after the Royal Assent is given.

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how laws are made and various stages